CRTC releases monitoring report
By Adnews Staff
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has released its sixth annual Broadcasting Policy Monitoring Report. This report assesses the impact CRTC actions on the Canadian broadcasting industry, including radio, television, distribution, social issues and the Internet. According to the report, Canadian currently have access to 867 English-language radio services, 253 French-language services and 38 services in other languages. Canadians listened to 19.5 hours of radio per week on average in 2004, unchanged from 2003. Revenues for private radio stations in this country were approximately $1.2 billion in 2004. In the television sector, Canadians have access to 511 English-language services, 115 French-language services and 53 services in other languages. During the 2003-2004 broadcast year, dramas and comedies were the most popular programs, accounting for 43% of all viewing. The total revenues of English-language specialty, pay and pay-per-view services in 2004 came to approximately $1.7 billion. The revenues of English-language private conventional services were about the same. This is the first time that the specialty and pay TV services have equalled the conventional services in revenue. French-language private conventional stations had revenues of $422 million, compared to $363 million for French-language pay, pay-per-view and specialty services. Canadians watched an average of 25.8 hours of television per week in 2004, down 20 minutes from 2003. According to the report, there are currently 1,960 cable companies, two direct-to-home satellite companies, 29 multipoint distribution systems and 12 subscription television systems in Canada. The number of digital service subscribers increased by 24% between June 2003 and September 2004. As of December 2004, 71% of Canadian households had a computer, up three percent from 2003. The percentage of Canadians with access to the Internet at home, work or elsewhere remained unchanged at 76%. The share of Internet users with high-speed subscriptions increased from 50% to 63% between March 2003 and December 2004.